Afternoon Tea at the Kowloon Shangri-La

Rumors have it the food at the Kowloon Shangri-La is not worth the visit. People say there is no comparing between the Hong Kong and the Kowloon Shangri-La, and I can see their point. You may recall my post on the Hong Kong Shangri-La high tea, which is not even remotely similar to the one served at the Kowloon Shangri-La. I didn't like much of this tea set, the sweet treats were very simple and didn't really taste good. The scones were just so-so, and the savories were also simple and disappointing. But most of all, I didn't like the fact that the tea wasn't served in the three-tier stand, but rather on trays laid on the table. I don't know if they were bragging of big table {our table is so big you don't need a stand to fit all the stuff} or what, but I just didn't like it.

J's mom joined us for afternoon tea, and even the three of us couldn't finish a tea set for two. It's true that all of us weren't that hungry, but it's also worth mentioning that would the food have been better, I would have eaten more for sure. J and his mom had lattes, and I went for the rose tea, which was nothing special either.

On the plus side, the atmosphere at the Lobby Lounge, where tea is served, is definitely nice and calm. There's some live music, during our stay it was a girl playing the harp, which is always welcome and relaxing.

Note that this tea set is only available Monday to Friday, on the weekends only the tea buffet is available, at around HK$270 + 10% service charge per person.

Visited on: November 11th, 2013

Overall rating: 3*

Price: HK$368 + 10% service charge for two

Value for Money: 2*

Would I recommend it? Not really, not my cup of tea!

Kowloon Shangri-La

The Lobby Lounge

(852) 2733 8740

64, Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

Donguri Republic and Totoro Exhibition at LCX - Harbour City

On June 21st, Donguri Republic, a Japanese store selling character-themed merchandise from Studio Ghibli, opened in Hong Kong. Studio Ghibli's popular films include My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service, among others. Besides opening the store, they organized an exhibition of My Neighbor Totoro in LCX, Harbour City. To be completely honest, I had no idea this store opened in Hong Kong, and I saw it on Thursday afternoon on the bus TV. I looooove Totoro since I was a little kid, so on Thursday after having afternoon tea with my friend, I asked her to go take a look at Totoro's exhibition!

There's many lovely scenes from the movie hanging on the walls, and there's also a big Totoro in the bus stop to take pictures with! In case you're not familiar with the movie, this is the most popular scene from My Neighbor Totoro, so it was really nice being able to take a picture pretending to be the girl on the movie :D

I discovered My Neighbor Totoro accidentally when I was about 10 years old, I remember it was a public holiday or a Sunday morning, I turned on the TV and Totoro was there! I had no idea it was a movie, since all the cartoons I used to watch were usually tv series, and I got completely addicted to Totoro and thought the day after they would have more episodes, but of course there weren't any... It's definitely the best cartoon movie ever, ever! 

Make sure to stop by LCX in Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, before July the 31st to be able to take a look at this exhibition! Regarding the store, I wouldn't recommend trying to go any time soon unless it's on a weekday when everyone's in the office. Last weekend people were queuing for 3 hours to get in there!!! Hello, crazy Hong Kong people!? Ok, I admit I queued for 30 minutes myself on Thursday at 6pm!

Brick Lane: Probably the best eggs benedict in Hong Kong

So as I mentioned previously on my review on 18 grams, I've always loved the eggs benedict from Brick Lane, and I seriously couldn't decide whether 18 grams or Brick Lane should get the highest rating! I think both are simply the best in Hong Kong. At Brick Lane, I like the fact that you can choose what to have your eggs benedict with: salmon, bacon or something else. Of course I always go for salmon!

There's two Brick Lane branches, one right next to the other! I've always been to Brick Lane Gallery because it's bigger. I think some people don't know it exists and they queue like crazy for the small Brick Lane restaurant... So beware! If there's people lining up at the small Brick Lane on 2 Blenheim Avenue, TST, just walk 50 meters to 17-23 Minden Avenue for Brick Lane Gallery!

Visited on: May 11, 2013
Overall Quality: 5* for the eggs benedict!
Price: $80 for the eggs benedict + $25 for a caffe latte + 10% service charge
Value for Money: 5*
Would I recommend it? Yes, these eggs benedict are a must try, yummy!

Surprise!

A great terrace at DG Cafe - 1881 Heritage

If you're in Tsim Sha Tsui on a sunny afternoon and are looking for a nice relaxing terrace to sip a drink or eat good food, DG Cafe & Wine Cuisine is a superb option. The food is very reasonably priced given the good location of the restaurant on the second floor of 1881 Heritage, with its spacious and relaxing terrace. Expect to pay around HK$130 for a pizza  and HK$90 for a salad, so that you get the price range.  The food quality is good, too, I approve! 

Wedding Wednesday: Our Own Royal Wedding

Happy Wednesday everyone! As promised, here are some pics of the venue for our wedding reception in Hong Kong. As I mentioned previously, we will be having a wedding reception for our Hong Kong family and friends on December 29, 2013. Our banquet will be held at Royal Wedding, in the China Hong Kong City Building, Tsim Sha Tsui. 

The venue was not set up for a wedding on the day we visited it to take these pics, so you'll have to wait until our wedding to see the real thing!

Please ignore the Chinese New Year decor...

One special feature for today's Wedding Wednesday post, is I'm opening it up to you guys to link up your own posts ! All I ask is for your post to be wedding related and you to follow me on GFC. I'm looking forward to your links!!!

Fine Foods - The Royal Garden's Cozy Cake Shop

The Royal Garden Hotel has a hidden gem known to few: Fine Foods, the coziest cake shop in Tsim Sha Tsui. Every time I pass by I can't help but stare at it for a while. The cakes are gorgeous, but I even like the interior design better. I love the floor tiles, the brightness, the colors, the big flower bouquet, and just about everything! Their packaging is gorgeous, too!

Because of its rather inconvenient location in Tsim Sha Tsui East, few Hong Kongers know about this cute cake shop. Now that you know about it, are you gonna give it a try? I myself still haven't tried any of their cakes, when I took these pictures it was not "cake time" at all, but I will certainly be visiting again soon!

 

Fine Foods
69 Mody Road, Tsimshatsui East, Kowloon

Harlan's Cake Shop @ The ONE

Harlan's Cake Shop is located on the 4th floor of shopping mall The ONE in Tsim Sha Tsui. Its counter is filled with beautiful cakes delighting all passers-by.

We had the Rose Champagne and the Dark Grey Chocolate Cake, two beauties that were unfortunately not as tasty as they were pretty.

For drinks, J chose the regular Coffee {HK$28}, which he said to be one of the worst coffees he's ever had, and I went for the Caffe Orientale, which was good but not worth the price {HK$36}.

The sit-in area is limited to the three tables you can see on the picture above, which I didn't fancy that much because of their lack of privacy and the fact that I don't like low tables that make you bend over every time you want to reach your food. 

Visited on: January 20, 2013

Overall Quality: 2*

Price: Cakes prices start at HK$35

Value for Money: 2*

Would I recommend it? Don't bother, these cakes are only good to take nice pictures.

High Tea at The Peninsula Hong Kong

Any time is good to indulge in The Peninsula's high tea, but the best time is during the month of December, when the whole hotel turns into a living fairytale thanks to the astonishing decorations to commemorate the festive season. The Peninsula is Hong Kong's most iconic hotel, with a startling lobby that no other hotel in Hong Kong can possibly beat. The Peninsula is elegance and style at its very best. Its beautiful old colonial style reminds us of the British Hong Kong, and where better, then, to treat oneself to the typical English High Tea? 

 

At HK$598 + 10% service charge for a tea set for two, this is Hong Kong's most expensive high tea. The Festive Afternoon Tea I had at the Four Seasons was a bit more expensive because of their dessert buffet, but there is no other venue to charge such a high price just for the three-tiered set. Astonishingly enough {or not} The Peninsula is always crowded at tea time. Since they don't provide reservations, expect to queue for at least an hour during weekends in order to get a table. Weekdays are better, although some lining up is usually also the norm.

The quality of the food and the tea was very good, everything was delicious, and the macarons are the best I've had in a high tea set. I would still rank the Mandarin Oriental's high tea top one food quality wise, and The Peninsula would go in second. This doesn't mean the Mandarin Oriental's high tea is overall better than The Peninsula's, because the latter beats the former in other aspects such as venue ambience. I had this tea set four years ago, and had been looking forward to go back. I waited until December because the hotel is at its very best, looking splendorous with all the Christmas decor, and it was oh-so worth it! 

Live band at The Lobby during tea time

Visited on: December 29, 2012

Overall Quality: 5*

Price: HK$598 + 10% service charge for a set for two

Value for Money: 4.5*

Would I recommend it? How could I not? This is Hong Kong's most renowned afternoon tea, and it is so for a reason! The Peninsula's magnificent lobby makes for the best high tea atmosphere in town.